. >> in germany, chancellor angela merkel has praised the european union's hard-fought budget for the next seven years. she told parliament the proposals agreed in brussels earlier this month were the best way to ensure economic stability in europe. >> the budget includes some spending cuts for the first time. critics say it does not focus enough on boosting jobs and growth. >> angela merkel says all eu member states must cut costs. two weeks ago, the chancellor and british prime minister david cameron went out in brussels securing an eu budget cut of around 3%. now merkel has defended that decision. she says the crisis means everyone has to save. >> i will say it quite plainly -- it would have been hard to explain to people in europe, both to the states hit by the crisis and those bearing the bulk of the burden of solidarity why everyone in europe has to say except for europe itself. >> but the opposition disagrees. social democrats' candidate for chancellor peer steinbrueck says merkel advocates too much austerity and too little investment. he also accused merkel of making common ca